Migrants planning to start or grow a small business or event are encouraged to sign up for City of Clarence’s free Migrant Business Information Sessions.
These sessions are for migrants already running a food or catering business, organising festivals and events, or planning to turn entrepreneurial ideas into reality.
If you were born overseas, speak another language at home, or have connections to different cultures and communities, you are an important part of Clarence’s business community.
Visit our events page to learn more about these sessions and register your attendance.
Howrah café owner Fazal Mohammed opened Atmosfire in 2022, renovating an old fish-and-chip convenience store into a bustling beach-side café.
Establishing his food business has been a trial-and-error learning experience.
Mr Mohammed said the Migrant Business Information Sessions would be hugely beneficial for anyone starting out in business.
“People might not know about council requirements,” Mr Mohammed said.
“When they understand exactly what permits and licenses are needed, or know who they should approach for help, they at least have that minimal knowledge to make a good start.”
Mr Mohammed, who moved from India nine years ago, started his small business journey selling Indian cuisine from a food truck in West Moonah.
Although the truck was an established business, he had to pause operations while he got all the council permits and planning requirements in order.
It is this type of regulatory guidance that the free sessions will cover, alongside information such as hiring facilities, events hosting, business support, and promotion.
“Initially I had zero knowledge about marketing, and it took me a year to learn,” Mr Mohammed said.
“But if someone had this knowledge it would help them to shape the business from day one.”
Atmosfire has been built into a place the community love, which was recently recognised in the new business category at the 2025 Business Eastern Shore Awards.
Mr Mohammed’s advice for anyone starting out in business is to remain consistent, create a supportive team environment, and always appreciate your customers.
“I told myself, ‘you came here all the way from India, you started doing something, you must stay consistent’,” he said.
“Even if your business doesn’t grow, keep consistent and think ‘you will do it, no matter what’.”
Migrant Business Information Sessions will be held during Harmony Week on 16 March at Howrah Community Centre from 6.00pm and 19 March at Rosny State Library from 10.00am.
Visit our events page to learn more about these sessions and register your attendance.